Rays 1, Royals 8: Rays fail to score after first inning

And fail to win after the ninth.

Happy Friday, friends! It was time for a nacho party in Randyland as Seth Lugo and Shawn Armstrong squared off (with Armstrong only out for two innings), so let’s see how things went down at the Trop tonight.

The Royals went 1-2-3 in the top of the first. In the bottom half Brandon Lowe got a one-out single, then Jonny DeLuca was hit by a pitch. An Isaac Paredes single loaded the bases. Jonathan Aranda hit into a force out at second, but a run still scored with Lowe coming home. The Rays were up 1-0 at the end of the first.

Both clubs were three-up three-down in the second.

Tyler Alexander came in out of the Rays’ pen in relief of Armstrong. Nelson Velazquez then immediately singled. With one out, Garrett Hampson singled, but Alexander got the next two outs to get out of the inning unscathed. The sole baserunner in the bottom half of the inning was a Jonny DeLuca walk. No runs scored.

Vinnie Pasquantino singled to start the fourth. Michael Massey then got a one-out single. Freddy Fermin then singled to load the bases. A Velazquez walk brought in the Royals first run of the night. Hunter Renfroe then grounded into a force out at second, scoring Massey. Renfroe stole second, but no additional Royals runs scored. The Rays were 1-2-3 in the bottom half.

Maikel Garcia singled in the top of the fifth, then stole second. Salvador Perez reached on a hit-by-pitch with two outs. Massey then hit a three-run homer, giving the Royals a sudden 5-1 lead. In the home half, Yandy Diaz got a two-out double, then Brandon Lowe walked. Neither runner was able to score.

Hunter Renfroe hit a one-out double to start the sixth, then a Hampson single brought Renfroe home. The Royals would settle for the one extra run. The Rays went 1-2-3 in the bottom half.

In the top of the seventh Bobby Witt Jr. kicked things off with a solo home run. Pasquantino reached on a hit by pitch. Two outs later, Fermin doubled, scoring Pasquantino. Royals were 8-1 going into the seventh inning stretch. Jose Caballero hit a single to start the home half of the inning, then Jose Siri reached on a fielder’s choice, eliminating Cabellero. The Rays failed to bring either Jose home.

Phil Maton came in for Tyler Alexander. Hunter Renfroe walked. Garrett Hampson walked. Renfroe advanced to third on a wild pitch. Then Maikel Garcia walked to load it up. Maton managed to pitch out of the jam, though. Lugo’s night was finally over, making way for Sam Long. He didn’t need to face the Rays for long, as they went 1-2-3.

Richard Lovelady was next out for the Rays, and gave up a lone single to Kyle Isbel. Onto the bottom half and with one out Velazquez seemingly robbed Arozarena of a nice hero moment. Then did the same thing one more time to end the game.

Final: Royal 8, Rays 1